CANADA

NEW YORK

CONNECTICUT

VERMONT

NEW

HAMPSHIRE

NEW JERSEY

PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE ISLAND

MASSACHUSETTS

DELAWARE

MARYLAND

MAINE

Boston

New York

Washington

Philadelphia

Albany

Montreal

Toronto

Portland

Springeld

Pittsburgh

Baltimore

Bualo

Harrisburg

Rutland

Burlington

Northeld

St. Albans

Syracuse Rochester

Niagara Falls

Trenton

Exeter

Providence

Concord

New Haven

Wilmington

Ocean City

Brunswick

Auburn

Empire Corridor 

Empire Corridor 

Vermonter

Downeaster

Northeast Corridor

Northeast Corridor

Adirondack

Ethan

Allen

Express

Pennsylvanian

Keystone Corridor

Capitol Limited

Lake Shore Limited

Maple Leaf

NS

NS

CSX

CSX

CSX

CSX 

CSX 

NS

CSX

CP

CP

CP

NECRR

PAN AM

VTR

NS

NS

Population Density

Low High

Emerging (up to 90 mph)

Amtrak Long-Distance Route

Corridor Planning

Class I Railroad

N 50 miles

Core Express (125+ mph)

Regional (90-125 mph)

LEGEND The Northeast region is home to the nation’s busiest rail routes, many of which have seen

regular passenger service for over 150 years. Today, multistate planning eorts will prepare

the region for continued ridership growth into the next century.

Comprehensive Northeast Corridor (NEC) planning for the rst time since 1978:

The NEC FUTURE program will result in a Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan (PRCIP),

establishing a roadmap for future investment on the Corridor. NEC FUTURE consists of two

coordinated documents: 1) a Service Development Plan (SDP) that denes the vision for the

NEC rail network in 2040, as well as the investments needed and the economic

impacts/benets of implementing the vision; and 2) a Tier 1 Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS), required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), that will

evaluate broad environmental benets and consequences of implementing the SDP and

be used as the vehicle for permitting the future improvements on the Corridor.

Enhanced connection to Vermont: The FRA investment of $52.7 million in HSIPR Recovery

Act funds, coupled with $5 million in private investment from New England Central

Railroad, allowed the State of Vermont to improve track, roadbed, grade crossings, and

bridges along 190 miles of the route in Vermont. The project has resulted in nearly 30

minutes in travel time savings, along with increased speeds, greater reliability, and the

potential for additional train frequencies in the future. Also, the strengthening and repair of

bridges along this route has improved safety and freight capacity.

Expanded service in Maine: FRA provided $38.4 million in HSIPR Recovery Act funds to

improve the condition of track, roadbed, grade crossings, signals, and bridges on the Pan

Am Railways line between Portland and Brunswick, ME to allow for an extension of the

Amtrak Downeaster service – providing passenger service to Freeport and Brunswick for

the rst time since 1959. About 30 miles of new rail, 34,000 new rail ties, over 25

rehabilitated bridges and culverts, and 37 upgraded at-grade crossings will increase safety

and reliability, while laying the foundation for additional frequencies in the future.

CONNECTICUT BOSTON MAINE

BALTIMORE PHILADELPHIA NEW YORK

All images: Wikimedia Commons unless otherwise noted

Image: ickr user Seth W Image: ickr user drewsaunders

America’s Rail Network: Northeast Region
Global Rank

(comparable to)

(Germany)

5

(Sweden)

56

(United Kingdom)

22

63M

20% of U.S.

$3.5 Trillion

24% of U.S.

174,000 sq. mi.

5% of U.S.

-

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

Passe

n

g

ers (in

millio

ns)

+26%

Since 2005

86%

Served

HSIPR TIGER RRIF Other Total More Trains/

NewService Faster Travel Better

Reliability

Improved

Stations/

Equipment

Northeast Corridor (DC -NYC - Boston) 457 $954 $23 $563 $47 $1,587

Track upgradesto allow top speeds of 160mph;replacement and

enlargement of locomotive eet;station upgrades; new bridges;

planning work for alleviating bottlenecks; capacity improvements.

  

Albany - Rutland 100 $1 - - - $1 Study of new alignments between eastern NY and southwestern VT.

Boston - Portland - Brunswick 138 $60 $10 - $1 $71 Extension ofservice north of Portland to Freeport and Brunswick, ME;

improvementsto provide a safer and more reliable service.   

New Haven -Hartford - Springeld - St. Albans 314 $316 $18 - - $334

Track upgradesto allow for 90mph service; additional daily service in

Connecticut; improvementsto reduce travel time in Vermont.    

New York City -Albany - Bualo -Niagara Falls 460 $187 $32 - $1 $219

Improvementsto stations,signal systems, and capacity; improved

reliability and decreased trip times.   

New York City -Albany - Montreal 381 $3 - - - $3 Elimination of a key bottleneck aecting two intercity services. 

Philadelphia -Harrisburg - Pittsburgh 353 $66 - - - $66

Track and grade crossing improvements,reducing trip times and

improving safety;study of improved passenger service to Pittsburgh.  

Multiple Northeastern Corridors n/a $30 $83 - - $113 Work to begin expansion ofNew York Penn/Moynihan Station. 

Other Corridors/ Freight Investments n/a $3 - $34 $16 $53 Improvementsto freight corridors/facilitiesthroughout the region.

TOTAL $1,620 $165 $597 $65 $2,447

Federal Investments ($M, 2008-2012)

Corridor Distance

(miles) Investment Description

planning

varies

Service Improvements

Northeast Region

SOURCES : Population: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010. Economy: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2010. 

International Statistics: CIA World Factbook, 2012. All Other Information: Federal Railroad Administration, 2012.

Population within 30 miles of a passenger station 

that receives at least one daily intercity train.

Region Characteristics Population Served

Corridor Details

Ridership Growth

$

Population

Economy

Land Area